A person who laced candy with sedative and distributed them to children at a youth camp in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two children both nine and ten years old.
The accused was taken into custody after eight minors and a grown-up became sick at the facility in mid-summer.
The senior citizen, from that region, admitted guilt to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the courthouse on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was facing, which was involving a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was remanded in custody before a subsequent court date on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, handling the case, described the defendant's actions to the legal proceedings.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he managed.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the minors, the prosecutor said, in which he would enter the sleeping quarters when they were settling down and request they to eat sweets "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the man had engaged in this activity with the children "over an extended period", and youngsters had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She said the defendant had been successful in rationalizing this repeatedly as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepchild had concerns in recently.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his family member had concerns about what was going on, justifiably.
"They resolved" to examine in the defendant's belongings."
Mrs Prior KC stated items including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his family member contacted the law enforcement about his worries.
She explained the defendant went on to conduct the "treat game" with six boys that time - Saturday 26 July - and they were all ill the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that stage," she added.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was reviewing the police response of the events.
The legal representative said the minors were struggling to walk due to being ill, so the family member called the law enforcement once more.
She explained the man then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five youngsters.
